Puruṣaikatva-vyākhyāna: The One Virāṭ Puruṣa and the Many ‘Puruṣas’
Rudra–Brahmā Saṃvāda
भो राजन् केन यष्टव्यमजेनाहोस्विदौषधै:
bho rājan kena yaṣṭavyam ajenāho svid auṣadhaiḥ
ພີສະມະ ກ່າວວ່າ: «ໂອ ພຣະຣາຊາ, ຄວນປະກອບຍັດຍະດ້ວຍສິ່ງໃດ—ດ້ວຍແບ້ ຫຼືດ້ວຍພືດຢາ?»
भीष्म उवाच
The verse frames an ethical-ritual dilemma: whether a sacrifice should involve animal offering (goat) or be performed with non-violent substitutes (herbs). It points toward reflective discernment in dharma—how ritual action should align with moral considerations.
Bhīṣma addresses the king and poses a pointed question about the proper mode of sacrifice, contrasting an animal offering with an offering of herbs. The line functions as a prompt within a broader discussion on righteous conduct and the legitimacy or alternatives of sacrificial practice.